Frangible Envelope Portion with Tear Line

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is to an easy-open envelope having a tear-line located within a length of the envelope&#39;s seam fastened to frangible portions of the envelope created by strategically placed perforations creating an envelope mailer with an integral opener that eliminates the need for using a knife or letter opener potentially damaging the envelope contents or using a finger which leaves the envelope ragged.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to mailers and, more specifically, to an easily opened envelope having a tear-line located within a length of the envelope's seam fastened to frangible portions of the envelope created by strategically placed perforations.

The easy-open envelope has an array of perforations encompassing at least one corner of the envelope with the tear-line fastened to the frangible envelope portion created by said perforations. Creating an envelope mailer with an integral opener eliminates the need for one to use a knife or letter opener potentially damaging the envelope contents or using a finger which leaves the envelope ragged. While it is expedient to rip it open with one's finger, many times the mailer is retained for want of the return address, the contents require some future processing, the mailer and postal mark serve as historical record and stamp collecting. All of these require the careful opening of the mailer, which involves some type of opener. Considering the special needs of children, the elderly and the physically challenged also points to a need for a mailer having an integral opener.

The present invention further provides that the mailer of the present invention while having been described as having at least one frangible corner also provides for any two corners, as well as three or four, being separable from the mailer having the tear-line fixed to the frangible mailer portions whether to adjacent corners or diagonal corners.

The easy-open mailer of the present invention also provides that the tear-line may extend beyond the mailer whereby a decorative article can be attached thereto. In which case, no frangible portions of the envelope may be required. The tear-line would be fastened in the envelope seam and extend to the attached article enabling the attached article to be used in similar fashion as the envelope frangible portions as a handhold for manipulating the tear-line. The attached article includes static articles, articulated articles, illuminatable articles, audio articles, deformable articles, inflatable articles and combinations thereof.

Furthermore, the easy-open mailer of the present invention provides that the tear-line may be embedded within the mailer stock or bonded only to the mailer frangible portion(s) or bonded to the mailer seam with the bonding selected from either adhesively, ultrasonically or thermally bonded.

2. Description of the Prior Art

There are other mailers designed with tear stripes. While these mailers may be suitable for the purposes for which they were designed, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention, as hereinafter described.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

A primary object of the present invention is to provide an envelope mailer that overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide an envelope mailer incorporating a tear-line serving as an envelope opener.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an envelope mailer with a frangible portion having the tear-line fixed thereto.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide an envelope mailer wherein said frangible portion provides means for manipulating the tear-line.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an envelope mailer wherein said frangible portions aids children, the elderly and the physically challenged in opening envelopes.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an envelope mailer wherein said mailer body has perforation arrayed about a corner forming said frangible portion.

Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide an envelope mailer wherein said separable frangible portion can be any corner or all corners or any combination thereof.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an envelope mailer wherein said tear-line extends between adjacent corners.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an envelope mailer wherein said tear-line may extend diagonally.

Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide an envelope mailer wherein said tear-line extends outwardly from said mailer whereby an article can be attached thereto.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an envelope mailer wherein said attached article includes static articles, articulated articles, illuminatable articles, audio articles, deformable articles, inflatable articles and combinations thereof.

Additional objects of the present invention will appear as the description proceeds.

The present invention overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art by providing an easy-open envelope having a tear-line located within a length of the envelope's seam fastened to separable frangible portions of the envelope created by strategically placed perforations encompassing at least one corner of the envelope so that when sufficient pressure is applied to separate the frangible portion from the envelope, the frangible portion can be used to manipulate the tear-line severing the seam. Also provided for is a tear-line extending beyond the envelope body whereby decorative articles can be attached.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages will appear from the description to follow. In the description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which forms a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments will be described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. In the accompanying drawings, like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views.

The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is best defined by the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

In order that the invention may be more fully understood, it will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is an illustrative view of the present invention in use.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the easy-open mailer of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the present invention in a partially open position.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a tab of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an illustration of a method of manufacture.

FIG. 8 is a front view of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a front view of the frangible portion in another location.

FIG. 10 is a front view of the frangible portion in another location.

FIG. 11 is a detailed view of the present invention.

FIG. 12 depicts various views of the decorative article and tear-line extension of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCED NUMERALS

Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views, the Figures illustrate the hybrid induction motor of the present invention. With regard to the reference numerals used, the following numbering is used throughout the various drawing Figures.

-   10 easy-open envelope -   12 user -   14 mailer body -   15 vertical seam -   16 mailer seam -   17 horizontal seam -   18 mailer corner -   19 tear aid perforation -   20 mailer perforations -   22 mailer frangible portion -   24 frangible seam -   26 tear-line -   28 tear-line anchor -   30 indicia -   32 perforation radial offset -   34 mailer adjacent tear-line -   36 mailer diagonal tear-line -   38 tear-line extension -   40 decorative article -   42 directional aid

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The following discussion describes in detail one embodiment of the invention (and several variations of that embodiment). This discussion should not be construed, however, as limiting the invention to those particular embodiments, practitioners skilled in the art will recognize numerous other embodiments as well. For definition of the complete scope of the invention, the reader is directed to appended claims.

Referring to FIG. 1, shown is an illustrative view of the present invention in use. The present invention provides a mailer 10 comprising mailer housing 14 having frangible portions 22 connected by anchor 28 to tear-line 26 whereby user 12 can grasp the envelope body 14 with one hand and with the other supply sufficient pull to remove frangible portion 22 from body 14 at frangible portion seam 24. Mailer body 14 has corners 18 with seam 16 extending therebetween. The easy-open envelope of the present invention provides layment of a tear-line adjacent at least one seam 16 and anchored to frangible portion 22. Frangible portion 22 is formed by providing an array of perforations 20 from one seam to another encompassing a corner 18 so that when sufficient pressure is applied the frangible portion 22 separates from the body along frangible seam 24 and is used to manipulate tear-line 26 to sever seam 16. Also shown is indicia 30 and hand 42, which can be used for instructional purposes, as illustrated.

Referring to FIG. 2, shown is a front view of the present invention. Illustrated is the mailer 10 of the present invention prior to assembly. The mailer 10 is comprised of mailer housing 14 having frangible portions 22 formed by applying perforations 20 to a portion of envelope 14 encompassing a corner 18 so that when assembled, frangible portion 22 is separable from the envelope body 14. The easy-open envelope of the present invention provides layment of tear-line 26 adjacent at least one seam 16 and anchored 28 to frangible portion 22 and seam 16 so that when sufficient pressure is applied the frangible portion 22 separates from the body along frangible seam 24 and is used to manipulate tear-line 26 to sever seam 16. Also shown is indicia 30, which can be used for instructional purposes, as illustrated. Optionally having the tear line 26 fastened to the envelope at one or more points serves to guide the tear line along seam 16.

Referring to FIG. 3, shown is a front view of the present invention. Illustrated is a mailer 10 of the present invention prior to assembly. The mailer 10 is comprised of mailer housing 14 having frangible portions 22 formed by taking an unassembled mailer 10 and using radial offset 32 applying perforations from a corner 18 having vertical seam 15 and horizontal seam 17 so that when the mailer is assembled perforation 20 to the left of vertical seam 15 are in alignment with those to the right of 15 and when the bottom is folded up they too will align with the others and further placing a perforation 19 on vertical seam 15 to aid the user by compromising the mailer housing 14 at desired point 19 and it is further provided that spacing perforation 20 closer together at seam 15 will further aid the user in separation by decreasing the initial pressure required to initiate separation of frangible portion 22 from envelope body 14. The easy-open envelope of the present invention provides layment of a tear-line adjacent at least one seam 16 and anchored to frangible portion 22. so that when sufficient pressure is applied the frangible portion 22 separates from the body along frangible seam 24 and is used to manipulate tear-line 26 to sever seam 16. Also shown is indicia 30, which can be used for instructional purposes, as illustrated.

Referring to FIG. 4, shown is a front view of the easy-open mailer of the present invention. The present invention provides a mailer 10 comprising mailer housing 14 having frangible portions 22 connected by anchor 28 to tear-line 26 whereby a user can grasp the envelope body 14 with one hand and with the other supply sufficient pull to remove frangible portion 22 from body 14 at frangible portion seam 24. Mailer body 14 has corners 18 with seam 16 extending therebetween. The present invention further provides that the mailer of the present invention 10 provides for any two corners 18 being separable from the mailer 14 having the tear-line 26 fixed to the frangible mailer portions 22 whether to adjacent corners 34 or diagonal corners 36.

Referring to FIG. 5, shown is a front view of the present invention in a partially open position. As aforementioned, when sufficient pressure is applied to frangible portion 22 it separates from the body 14 along frangible seam 24 and is used to manipulate tear-line 26 to sever seam 16. The frangible portion 22 can have indicia 30 imprinted thereon for instructional purposes.

Referring to FIG. 6, shown is an enlarged view of a tab of the present invention. Illustrated is an enlarged view of a corner 18 of the mailer 10 of the present invention showing mailer housing 14 having frangible portion 22 connected by anchor 28 to tear-line 26 whereby a user can grasp the envelope body 14 with one hand and with the other supply sufficient pull to remove frangible portion 22 from body 14 at frangible portion seam 24.

Referring to FIG. 7, shown is an illustration of a method of manufacture. The general assembly of a typical envelope and the envelope opening device could be as follows:

(Step 1) the tear-line 26 and the perforated envelope blanks 14 are combined along the same linear path locating the tear-line 26 on a desired location and position of the envelope blank. (Step 2) the envelope 10 is folded around the envelope opening device 26. (Step 3) the tear-line 26 of the envelope opening device is cut separating the individual envelops 10.

Referring to FIG. 8, shown is a front view of the present invention. The present invention also provides that a single corner 18 of mailer 14 can have a frangible portion 22. When sufficient pressure is applied to frangible portion 22 it separates from the body 14 along frangible seam 24 and is used to manipulate tear-line 26 to sever seam 16 to anchor 28 of corner 18.

Referring to FIG. 9, shown is a front view of the frangible portion in another location. The present invention provides a mailer 10 comprising mailer housing 14 having frangible portions 22 connected by anchor 28 to tear-line 26 whereby user 12 can grasp the envelope body 14 with one hand and with the other supply sufficient pull to remove frangible portion 22 from body 14 at frangible portion seam 24. Mailer body 14 has corners 18 with seam 16 extending therebetween. The easy-open envelope of the present invention provides layment of a tear-line adjacent at least one seam 16 and anchored to frangible portion 22. Frangible portion 22 is formed by providing an array of perforations 20 from one seam to another encompassing a corner 18 so that when sufficient pressure is applied the frangible portion 22 separates from the body along frangible seam 24 and is used to manipulate tear-line 26 to sever seam 16. Also shown is indicia 30, which can be used for instructional purposes, as illustrated.

Referring to FIG. 10, shown is a front view of the frangible portion in another location. The present invention provides a mailer 10 comprising mailer housing 14 having frangible portions 22 connected by anchor 28 to tear-line 26 whereby a user can grasp the envelope body 14 with one hand and with the other supply sufficient pull to remove frangible portion 22 from body 14 at frangible portion seam 24. Mailer body 14 has corners 18 with seam 16 extending therebetween. The present invention further provides that the mailer of the present invention 10 provides for any two corners 18 being separable from the mailer 14 having the tear-line 26 fixed to the frangible mailer portions 22 whether to adjacent 32 corners 18 or diagonal 30 corners.

Referring to FIG. 11, shown is a detailed view of the present invention. Shown is an enlarged view of a corner 18 of the mailer 10 of the present invention showing mailer housing 14 having frangible portion 22 connected by anchor 28 to tear-line 26 whereby a user can grasp the envelope body 14 with one hand and with the other supply sufficient pull to remove frangible portion 22 from body 14 at frangible portion seam 24.

Referring to FIG. 12, depicted are various views of the decorative article 36 and tear-line extension 34 of the present invention 10. The envelope opening device can have various configurations for the decorative article 36 and/or the tear-line extension 34. Shown here are some different shapes for pull tab. The string can also extend beyond the envelope body to create a tassel style pull string.

While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention. 

1. An envelope mailer comprising: a) an envelope housing having a front wall and a rear wall with seams therebetween; b) said envelope having a plurality of perforations placed radially encompassing a corner of said housing; c) an envelope frangible portion formed at the corner of the mailer by applying said perforations about said corner; and, d) a tear-line fastened between a housing corner and said frangible portion within an envelope seam whereby said tear-line can be used to sever a housing seam.
 2. The envelope mailer as recited in claim 1, wherein said frangible portion perforations are symmetrically arrayed around a vertices forming corner.
 3. The envelope mailer as recited in claim 2, wherein said symmetrically arrayed perforations have a leftmost perforation piercing the mailer housing on its edge forming a nook within said housing that will aid in separating the frangible portion from the mailer housing under application of appropriate pressure.
 4. The envelope mailer as recited in claim 1, wherein the spacing between perforations can vary to vary the required force need to perform separation of the frangible portion from the mailer housing.
 5. The envelope mailer as recited in claim 1, comprising an unassembled mailer having a corner forming a vertices for radially positioned perforations so that when the mailer is assembled the arc of perforations will overlay each other.
 6. The envelope mailer as recited in claim 1, wherein said frangible portion once separated from the envelope housing is used as a handhold to manipulate the tear-line in severing the housing seam.
 7. The envelope mailer as recited in claim 1, wherein the envelope housing has two opposing frangible portions formed therein with said tear-line fastened therebetween whereby opening said envelope can be performed using either frangible portion.
 8. The envelope mailer as recited in claim 7, wherein the opposing frangible portions are adjacent to one another.
 9. The envelope mailer as recited in claim 7, wherein the opposing frangible portions are diagonally oriented to one another.
 10. The envelope mailer as recited in claim 1, wherein said means of tear-line fastening to the frangible portion is taken from the group of adhesive bonding, thermal bonding, ultrasonic bonding and combinations thereof.
 11. The envelope mailer as recited in claim 1, wherein said frangible portion has indicia imprinted thereon that may serve as instructional information.
 12. The envelope mailer as recited in claim 1, wherein the mailer housing incorporates an instructional aid in the location of the frangible portion with said instructional aid taken from the group of picture, image, graphic, letter and any combination thereof.
 13. An envelope mailer comprising: a) an envelope housing having a front wall and a rear wall with seams therebetween; b) said envelope having a plurality of perforations placed radially encompassing a corner of said housing; c) an envelope frangible portion formed at the corner of the mailer by applying said perforations about said corner; d) a tear-line fastened to the frangible portion and extending outward of the envelope housing; and e) a decorative article fastened to the free end of the tear line.
 14. The envelope mailer as recited in claim 13, wherein said attached article is taken from the group of static articles, articulated articles, illuminatable articles, audio articles, deformable articles, inflatable articles and combinations thereof. 